TRUE RELATION OF SCIENCE TO INDUSTRIES 289 



regard was had for the physical, chemical, and geognos- 

 tic properties of the soil." 



GROWTH OF WEATHER OBSERVATION. 



Since the time spoken of by Liebig, however, a 

 revolution has taken place in respect of these things. 

 Every civilized Government has instituted a thorough 

 system of meteorological observations taken at different 

 stations and representing the mean of the whole coun- 

 try. These observations, it is true, were first under- 

 taken for the benefit of commerce, but they are far more 

 likely in the end to prove a greater benefit to farmers. 

 As a result of this, agricultural stations generally have 

 undertaken a similar series of observations, whose data 

 can be added to those of the Signal Service proper. 

 And here I will say with as much emphasis as plain 

 statement can imply, that I regard the predictions of 

 the so-called weather prophets as too preposterous to 

 merit contradiction. And yet these vagaries of mono- 

 maniacs receive a quite general credence. People 

 might just as well pin their meteorological faith to the 

 predictions of the Patent Medicine Almanac. But it 

 is quite different with a scientifically conducted signal 

 service. The area of low pressure ascertained from the 

 various parts of the country shows the direction of the 

 winds. The telegraph also shows in what direction 

 these areas are moving, and the anemometer tells the 

 rate of their progress. These data, in connection with 

 the temperature, the season of the year, and the degree 

 of saturation of the air furnished by the hygrometer, 

 give almost absolute data for predicting the kind of 

 weather, when no unheralded conditions serve to change 

 probable environment. 



